Comets too much for Tiger girls

Fort Scott's Emily Hale (23) moves by a pair of Chanute defenders, including Jordan Schoenberger (31) during the second half of play Friday night at the FSHS gymnasium. Hale scored 7 points and had 4 rebounds in a 59-35 loss. (Kenny Felt/Special to the Tribune)

Defending Southeast Kansas League co-champion Chanute simply had more weapons than Fort Scott High's girls Friday night, shooting 51 percent from the field over the first three quarters of a 59-35 victory at the FSHS gymnasium.

The Blue Comets held a 28-7 lead after 12 minutes of play as the Tigers (1-1 SEK, 2-3 overall) posted consecutive scores only once all night.

Ashley Cook's 3-point shot just over a minute into the contest gave Fort Scott its only lead of the game, 3-2. The Comets went on to score 15 of the next 17 points to end the period.

Guard Anna Bagshaw handled most of the load for the Blue Comets (1-0, 5-0) in the first half, scoring 14 of her 19 points, including a 3-point shot that capped the first quarter. Post Madi Rollins handled things in the second half, posting 11 of her 19 in the third quarter before Chanute began to substitute liberally in the fourth quarter.

Kharsyn Dwyer scored a 3-point play for the Tigers and Haley Denton put in a layup for Fort Scott to end the first half with its only consecutive points of the night. The Comets still led 34-17 going into the break.

Chanute scored the first 9 points of the second half and ended the third period with a 52-25 lead.

The Comets didn't make and field goals in the fourth quarter, their points coming on 7-of-14 free-throw shooting.

Cook led the Tigers with 11 points while Emily Hale added 7. The Tigers made 34 percent of their field-goal attempts on 12 of 35 while Chanute shot 43 percent on 18 of 42.

Fort Scott takes its holiday break and resumes play Jan. 8 against Labette County.

JUNIOR VARSITY -- Fort Scott won the junior varsity contest, 42-25. Jenny Denton led the Tigers with 8 points.

COOK WATCH -- Cook now has exactly 100 points this season. Her career total now stands at 963 points, which puts her 37 from 1,000 points and 153 away from breaking Jolee Sharp's record. She has also made 168 3-pointers, which puts her 42 away from 200. She was already the first FSHS girl to make 100 3-pointers.

CHANUTE: Busse 0-1 1-2 1, Bagshaw 4-9 8-10 19, S.Thompson 2-5 0-4 6, M.Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Newton 0-0 1-2 1, Phillips 0-0 0-0 0, Umbarger 0-0 2-4 2, L.Kidwell 0-1 0-0 0, P.Kidwell 2-7 2-4 6, Schoenberger 2-3 1-2 5, Rollins 8-15 2-2 19, Tallent 0-0 0-0 0, Smoot 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS: 18-42 17-30 59.

FORT SCOTT: Torres 0-1 2-3 2, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Westhoff 0-0 0-0 0, J.Denton 1-2 0-0 2, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Hale 1-6 5-8 7, A.Cook 4-13 3-8 11, Dwyer 2-4 1-1 5, H.Denton 2-4 0-0 4, M.Cook 0-3 0-0 0, Nelson 1-1 0-0 2, Reed 1-1 0-0 2. TOTALS: 12-35 8-12 35.

Fort Scott.................... 5 12 8 10 -- 35

Three-point field goals: Chanute 6-12 (Bagshaw 3-6, S.Thompson 2-3, Rollins 1-2, Busse 0-1), Fort Scott 3-10 (A.Cook 3-8, Hale 0-1, Dwyer 0-1).

Total fouls: Chanute 17, Fort Scott 26. Fouled out: P.Kidwell.

Rebounds: Chanute 30 (P.Kidwell 9), Fort Scott 26 (Hale 4, A.Cook 4). Assists: Chanute 8 (Bagshaw 4), Fort Scott 6 (J.Denton 2). Turnovers: Chanute 16, Fort Scott 26. Steals: Chanute 14 (Bagshaw 6), Fort Scott 4 (Hale 2). Blocked shots: Chanute 7 (P.Kidwell 2, Schoenberger 2), Fort Scott none.